Before ABC’s abrupt cancellation of the series in May 2018, after Roseanne Barr compared former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape, the show’s original run concluded in a bizarre manner. – @KateAurthur
The show that opened with a literal bang ended with a whimper. The love triangle between Anna Paquin’s Sookie, Alexander Skarsgård’s Eric and Stephen Moyer’s Bill was resolved in the most noncommittal way possible. – @MaaneKhat
The four-season, 65-episode sitcom experiment delivered saccharine hijinks until it ended with one of the dourest episodes of television to ever air. – @BeautifulBill
There was never a chance the finale was going to resolve all of the unanswered questions, but the ending critically undermined what should have felt like The Big Climax for one of the most obsessed-over TV shows ever. – @MaaneKhat
The series finale of “Dexter” was so poorly received that its final scene became an instant meme and a catch-all term for shows that royally screwed the landing. – @wilsonbchapman
The final episode (arguably the entire final season) of “Game of Thrones” was unforgivably sloppy, with largely unsatisfying endings to the stories of the cast. – @wilsonbchapman
"I will always associate [rage] with the ending of 'The Sopranos,' even if/when I reverse course on thinking it was a cheap, cheating way not to tie up the story of Tony Soprano." – @KateAurthur
Singer-songwriter-guitarist David Crosby, a founding member of two popular and enormously influential ’60s rock units, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), has died. He was 81 years old. bit.ly/3IZEj02
His wife released a statement to Variety, saying, "Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music." bit.ly/3IZEj02
With bandmates Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke, Crosby set down the template for ’60s L.A. folk-rock in the Byrds during his stormy 1964-67 tenure in the group. bit.ly/3IZEj02
After two years of going virtual, Sundance Film Festival is back in person. Here are 13 films that could have buyers writing big checks: bit.ly/3CXksLo
DRIFT
Cynthia Erivo plays Jacqueline, a refugee who flees war-torn Liberia for the safety of a Greek island. Through her friendship with a tour-guide (Alia Shawkat), she begins to find a way to move past the violence and trauma she has endured. bit.ly/3CXksLo
CAT PERSON
Emilia Jones ("CODA") and Nicholas Braun ("Succession") team up for the film adaptation of the viral New Yorker short story that instigated fiery discussions about gender, sex and "first date" social pressures. bit.ly/3CXksLo
Austin Butler + Janelle Monáe
Cate Blanchett + Michelle Yeoh
Viola Davis + Jennifer Lawrence
Jamie Lee Curtis + Colin Farrell
Eddie Redmayne + Ana de Armas
From #TheDropout to #Euphoria to #Andor, our chief TV critics sifted through an avalanche of shows to pick their favorites from this year. See which ones they chose here: bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
"Abbott Elementary"
"Quinta Brunson’s ABC comedy about a hardworking, charismatic group of Philadelphia teachers was so immediately realized...that it feels like it’s been on for years rather than months." – Caroline Framke bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
"Barry"
"The drama and the jokes were operating at their highest level yet in this year’s third season. Barry’s journey into unrepentant inner darkness was played beautifully by Bill Hader, but the season belonged to Sarah Goldberg." – Daniel D'Addario bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
Kirstie Alley, a two-time Emmy-winning actor who rose to fame with her role as Rebecca Howe in the NBC comedy series “Cheers,” has died after a battle with cancer. She was 71. bit.ly/3UELFbr
Alley’s death was confirmed through her official social media presence, which shared a statement from her children. bit.ly/3UELFbr
“To all our friends, far and wide around the world… We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” reads the statement. bit.ly/3UELFbr